Brake lever release mechanism



Feb. 7, 1939.- H, s, JANDUS ET AL 2,146,121

BRAKE LEVER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed May l0, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 HERBERT 5. -JANDUSv C HARLES F.

Feb. 7, 1939. H. s. JANDUS ET A.

BRAKE LEVER RELEASE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l0, 1937 DFE HERBERT SJANDUS CHARLES F PURDY This invention relates to novel release means Figure 3 is a fragmental view, partially in elefor emergency brake levers for use in automotive vation and partially in longitudinal section, of vehicles. another form of lever construction of the present y The present invention is concerned with a coninvention.

- 5 struction of brake levers for automotive vehicles, Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken 5 ywhich levers are constructed as stampings, and substantially in the plane indicated by line so designed and arranged as to be manufactured IV-IV of Figure 3.

on a production basis and to sell at competitive Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional DICSS. n view taken substantially in the plane indicated -i0 An object of the present invention is to proby line V-V of Figure 2. 10

vide a brake lever construction of such charac- Figure 6 is a view, partially in elevation and ter that the levers may be readily manufactured partially in longitudinal section, of a still further on a production basis, and in which the parts form of the present invention. are constructed to be readily assembled at mini- Figure 7 is a similar view of yet another form .l5 mum expenditure for labor. of the invention. 15

Another object of the present invention is to Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken 35l from the lever carried portion of the clutch lever to an automotive vehicle, with a pivota'r 35 .55 when the leveruis in 01T position. l 6 as the lever is swung in use. The pawl 9 is 55 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 t. i

`UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,146,121 BRAKE LEVER RELEASE MECHANISM Herbert S. Jandus and Charles F. Purdy, Detroit, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a. corporation of Michigan Application' May 10, 1937, serial No. 141,749

17 claims. (o1. k:f1-537) provide novel clutch release mechanisms for substantially in the plane indicated by line emergency brake levers for automotive vehicles. VIII-VIII ofFigure 7.

A further object of the present invention is to Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken 20 provide an emergency brake lever construction substantially in the plane indicated by line 20 wherein the parts are so arranged that the lever IX-IX of Figure 6.

maybe moved in brake setting direction without The drawings will now be explained. any `movement being imparted to the clutch re The lever illustrated in Figures l and 2 comlease member of the brake. prises a lever member A, fashioned by stamping,

A still further object of the present invention from flat metal stock, formed with a channel- 25 is to provide an emergency brake lever construcshaped shank I and a closed grip portion 2, tion for automotive vehicles, wherein the lever which is hollow. The finger or pressure side 3 is declutched from adjusted position by a digit of the grip is formed by bringing over the marof one hand of thevehicle operator. gins of the side walls of the lever, during the 3o A still further object of the present invention stamping operations, to close the grip portion-30 is to Yprovide a brake lever construction wherein and thus aiord a handle that is smooth and the brake lever is declutched by a push action comfortable to the operators hand. As illusapplied against a release member, which memtrated, the grip portion is oiset with respect to ber is normally spaced from and disconnected the shank portion in order readily to adapt the mechanism. connection of the lever behind the instrument The invention has for a further object the board, and with the lever depending from its provision of a brake lever construction for autopivotal connection, presenting the grip portion motive vehicles, wherein the lever may be rebelow the lower margin of the instrument board, leased from adjusted position by pressure applied as is the practice in arranging the dash type ofA 40 to the release member by a ringer or thumb of brake levers. the vvehicle operator. At one end, the lever A is pivoted to a fixed The above, other, and further objects of the support 4, the drawings showing the lever pivoted present invention will be apparent from the folat its upper end to the support by means of a lowing description and accompanying drawings. suitable pivot pin 5. Pivoted to the lever a short 45 The accompanying drawings illustrate embodidistance from the lever pivot 5, as at 6, is a ments of the present invention, and the views rockable plate or ratchet sector 'l having ratchet thereof are as follows: teeth 8 on an arcuate margin, in position to make Figure l is an elevational view of a brake lever latching or clutching engagement with a pawl 9 constructed in accordance with one form of the pivoted to the lever. The plate l is shown as 50 Present HVGIIOH- rockable about its pivot 6 by means of links l0, Figure 2 is a View, partially in elevation and which are connected at similar ends, as at H, partially in longitudinal section, of the lever of to the support 4, and at opposite-ends, as at l2, Figure l, showing the relationship of the parts to the plate, thus rocking the plate about its pivot pawl adjacent its point I4. Of course, any other..

suitable spring may be substituted for this spring, to urge the pawl into latching or clutching engagementwith its ratchet. The pawl 9 is pro-v` vided with a part constituting a shoulder I'I.

A rockable bar IB, shown as formed as a stamping with a web I9 and side walls 20, is pivotally connected at 2I, between its ends, to the shank portion of the lever A, and is illustrated as lying arranged with'its web I9 disposed near the web ofthe shank portion of the lever and its side walls 20 extending away from the web of the v lever. This bar I3 is so arranged Within the shank portion of the lever that an end thereof isdisposed to make contact with the shoulder I1 ,of the pawl undercertain conditions.

A trigger C, which is stamped to form a shoelike member, is pivoted at 22 to the walls of the lever, and arranged with its web 23 against the web I9 of the bar I8. The trigger C has its lower end closed as at 24, and a stop 25 iormedvon its lowerend to engage the margin of the surface 3 of the grip portion of the lever as a stop to preventoutward movement of the lower end of the trigger beyond a xed point.

The trigger C works` within the space Vbetween the walls of the lever, adjacentv theA gripportion vof the lever, and near the inner end of such grip portion. By inner end is meantthatportion of the grip which is remote from the free', end, in the pres-ent instance, of the lever, and as illustrated, this would be the Vupper. end of the grip Aportion of the lever.

.c In orderl to ,maintain the trigger member C projected,` as shownin full lines inFigure 2, and the. end of the bar Iwvhich is adjacent the shoulder Il spaced from the pawl, a spring 26 is A'.utilizedand arranged as bearing against the end Y of the bar adjacent the pawl.A vrThe spring 26 at one end rests against the web of the shank portion vof the lever, as at 21., and at its otherend bears vagainst av portion. ofthe web` of the bar I8. To `prevent displacement of the end of Vthe. spring which is against the lever,.lugs 28 arestruck in-k wardly from the webof ,the shank, on opposite sides of .the spring, to prevent .accidental vremoval ofthe spring. In like mannenlugs 28 are struck outof. the web o1" the bar I8 to guide the other mounting.

. end ofthe spring. The. lugs 28 and 2Q thus maintain the. spring ,2% .in operative relation between the shank portion of the lever and the barV IB, and constitute an, Ainexpensive manner of spring The spring Y-25,.in. addition ,to normally maintaining theY adjacentend ci. the bar IS in spaced Arelation with. respecttothe lshoulder Il ofthe lpawl,.mainta-ins the trigger C in projected position asshown in full lines in Figure 2, ready to be .actuated-by a finger or" the vehicle operator.

The space between'the shoulder I'I of the pawl .andtheadjacent end of ythe bar I8 is 4such that as the lever is swung from oli position `to set position, which would be a movement in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, the pawl-:may bounce alongthe ratchetV teeth 9 withthe lever towards off position.

The lever of Figure 3 is fashioned, by stamping or like operations, trom fiatr metal, to provide a .channel-shaped shank portion 30 and side walls .3 i., anda closed hollow grip portion 32 at the free end of the lever. Figure 3 shows this form of 'the lever in on position. To move the lever to set the brakes, the lever will be swung in counterclockwise direction about its pivot in the same manner as the lever described with reference to Figures l and 2. Inasmuch as the pivoted end construction of the lever is immaterial, it is not shown in the lever of Figure.

`A rockable ratchet sector. 33is pivoted to the lever in the same manner as is the plate 'i of Figure 2, and rocking movement is imparted to the sector as Vthe lever is swung. This Sector is provided with the ratchet teeth 34.

A pawl 35 is pivoted tothe lever by means of a hollow or tubular pivot 35, with the pawl provided with a tooth or part 3l for making latching engagement with any ci the teeth of the ratchet. The pawl'has a tail portion 38 which is shown as projecting a slight distance outwardly of. the shank portion of the lever, adjacent the sector 33. A spring 39 is utilized normally to maintain the pawl in latched or clutched engagement with its ratchet.

A release member for unlatching the pawl from its sector 33 is herein illustrated as comprising a member D, which is stamped from flat .metal to provide a membersubstantially channel-sliaped` member D has a web Ala and side walls, and isV assembled with respect to they shank portion of the lever-with the side walls ofthe lever and member D in over-lapped relation. The end of the web portion of the member D,.adjacent the pawl, lies along themargins of kthe side Walls of the lever as thumb. pressure is applied, in one direction, against the end 49 of the` member.

vRetrograde movement of the member D is caused by a spring 4I Vconnected at one end to a lug 42 liormed in the lever and at the other end to a lug 43 formed inv the member. D. v

Means are providedfor maintaining the member D against displacement with respect to the lever by allowing endwisey movement of this member to unlatchthe pawl. The means illustrated for accomplishing this purpose comprise bayonet notches or slots 44, which are L-shaped in elevation, cut in the opposing side walls of the shank portion ofthe lever, adjacent the pawl, and lugs 45, struck inwardly from'the sidewalls of the member D and entered in the slots 44. TheA bayonet slots Mi have entrances,.designated as 46 in Figure 3, whereby the lugs 45 may be inserted in the slots 44. The slots 44' extend lengthwise of the shank portion of the lever, and the action of the spring 4I`4 is such as, Lunder` normal conditions:

of operation to maintain the lugs 45 4within the longitudinal portions of the slots 44.

The margin of the end 40 ridesA on the palm portion of the grip of the lever as the actuating member D is reciprocated in use. The full line position of the member D in Figure 3 shows its normal or retracted position, and the dotted line position shows it in its advanced position, which is that to which it is moved to unlatch the pawl from its cooperating latched engagement with the ratchet. With the member D in normal or retracted position, the end thereof adjacent the pawl is spaced from the tail 35 of the pawl a suflicient distance to permit the pawl to rock about its pivot as the lever is swung from off position to set position, without imparting any movement whatsoever to the member D.

In the operation of this formof the invention, the lever is moved to set position by the operator grasping the pressure or nger' side of the lever and swinging the lever in counterclockwise direction, without necessarily having to shift the member D. During such movement, the point 31 of thepawl rides over the ratchet teeth, with bouncing or oscillating action, until the lever is at rest, whereupon the spring 39 causes latching engagement of the pawl with the nearest tooth of theratchet. To release the lever from its set position, the operator applies his thumb against the end 49 of the member D and pushes against the member, whereupon the end of the member adjacent the pawl moves against the tail of the pawl and unlatches the pawl from its ratchet, whereupon, with the member D still advanced, the lever is moved in clockwise direction to off position.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 includes a stamped lever having a shank portion of channel shape with a weby 49 and side walls 50. The grip portion has a inger or pressure side formed as a continuation of the web 49 of the shank, and a palm portion 52 formed by bringing the margins of the walls together in closed relationship. The linger side 5| o f the grip may be curved longitudinally to afford a comfortable grip portion for the hand of the operator.

` A rockable ratchet plate 53, having ratchet teeth 54 thereon, is pivoted to the lever in. the mannerdescribed with reference to Figure 2, and a pawl 55 is pivoted to the lever by means of a hollow pivot 55. The pawl has a tooth 51 for making latching engagement with any of the teeth of the ratchet 54 to latch the lever in adjusted position. A spring 58 functions to maintain the tooth 51 of the pawl in latched engagement with the ratchet. The pawl has a tailpiece 58a formed eintegrally' with it.

A rocking bar E, fashioned from stamped metal and providing a web 59 and vside walls 60, is arranged to work within the channel-shaped shank of the lever with its web in oppositionto the web 49 of the lever and with its side walls 50 and the walls'50of the lever in overlapped relation. The

bar E," at its end adjacent'the grip portion of the lever, has an outstanding part forming a pressure surface 5|, yand an end E2. The surface 6| is adapted to be pressed against by the thumb of the hand of the vehicle operator who grasps the lever to move it. In this form of construction, the member E is shown as provided with a tongue 63 formedr as an extension of the end B2 of the member, about which a spring 54 is coiled, of which one end bears against the web 49 of the lever, and the other end against the margins or shoulders 65 formed in the end B2 by the construction of the 3 tongue 63. The spring 64 functions to maintain the end of the bar E which is adjacent the grip portion of the lever in outward position, and the end of the bar which is adjacent the pawl spaced from the tail of the pawl, so that the pawl may oscillate about its pivot when the lever is moved from "oiim position to set position, without imparting any movement to the member E.

To unlatch the pawl of the form of lever shown in Figure 6, the operator grasps the grip portion of the lever with his iingers and applies his thumb against the surface 6| of the member E, pressing this surface inwardly, which swings the other end of the bar E against the tail of the pawl to unlatch the pawl from its ratchet, thus allowing retro-grade movement of the lever.

While the spring 64 in the lever of Figure 6 is shown as acting against the end of the bar E which is adjacent the grip portion of the lever, it is to be understood that this spring might be replaced by one applied against the web portion of the bar E adjacent the pawl. end of the bar, somewhat like the spring shown in the lever of Figure 2.

The form of lever illustrated in Figure 7 shows a lever having a channel-shaped shank portion providing a web 66 and side Walls 61. A rockable ratchet sector 68 is pivoted to the lever, and is provided with ratchet teeth 69 which engage the tooth of a pawl 1| pivoted to the lever by means of a tubular or hollow pivot 12. A spring 13 engages the pawl normally to retain it in latched engagement with the ratchet.

In this form of the invention, the pawl 1| is provided with an elongated tail piece 14 which extends generally in the direction of the length of the shank portion of the lever away from the pawl pivot.

The lever, in this form of the invention, is not provided with a grip portion, but at its free end terminates inv ears which are apertured to receive a pivot pin 16.

A combined rocking bar and grip member F is fashioned from flat metal by suitable stamping or similar operations, to provide a channel-shaped portion having a web 11 and side walls 18, and a hollow grip portion 19. The member F is pivoted to the lever by means of the pin 16, with the channel-shaped portion of this member within the channel-shaped portion of the lever, and with the tubular grip portion of the member projecting beyond the adjacent extremity of the lever. The channel-shaped portion of this member terminates adjacent the end of the tail 14 of the pawl 1| and is disposed so that its web contacts the pawl tail when the grip portion 19 is rocked in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 about its pivot 16.

For normally maintaining this end of the member F in spaced relation to the tail 14. of the pawl,

a spring 80 is employed. 'Ihis spring is shown as formed of wire, with a bight engaged in a notch 8| formed in the edges of the side walls B1 of the lever shank, and its free end 83 bearing against the interior of the grip portion 19 of the member in such fashion as to maintain that end of the member which is adjacent the pawl in spaced relation to the pawl tail. In order to limit the movement of this end of the member F, in a direction away from the pawl tail, a stop 84 of metal is Welded or otherwise secured to the mar-A gins of the walls of the shank portion of the lever in position to be engaged by the walls 18 of the member F, as may be observed in Figure 7.

In this form of the invention, Figure 7 shows theparts in normal position, which is that oc- --Ycupied by the parts'when the pawl is in latched Aengagement with the ratchet.

If it is desired to swing the lever from the posiy tion shown in Figure 7, which is the ofi position, to a set position, the operator grasps the handle portion 'i9 of the member F, against the left-hand surface thereof as viewed in Figure '7,

` and swings the lever in counterclockwise direction. During such movement, no relative movefment occurs between the member F and the lever shank, as the member AF abuts the stop 84 and is maintained in abutment therewith by reason of the spring 80.

When it is desired to unlatch the pawl, the operator presses against the handle portion 'a ofthe member F in a direction to oscillate it -about the pin 16 in clockwise direction, which movement causes the end of the member F which is' adjacent the pawl to move against the tail of the pawl and trip the pawl from latched engagement'with its ratchet, whereupon the lever may be swung to offY position.

The abutment herein mentioned as comprising a "stop'84 welded or otherwise secured to the side walls of the lever shank may consist of ears 85 which are inturned, as shown in Figure' S. It lmight be said thatthis is a preferable manner or? providing the abutment for the end of the member F which is adjacent the pawl.

In the forms of the invention herein illustrated and described, that member which normally engages the pawl to trip the pawl from latching engagement with its ratchet is normallyrmainalas `'so that as the lever is'swung to set position, the 'pawl may bounce along its ratchet without imtained in spaced relation with respect to the pawl,

parting any motion to such actuating member,

I thereby reducing rattle to a minimum.

l maintaining the pawl in latched engagement The fact that two springs are utilized, one for with its companion clutch member, and the other for maintaining the pawl actuating means in fone position, makes it possible so to design the latterspring as effectively to maintain the actuating member in operative position Withoutv rattle, and without having to have a spring of such strength as to make it troublesome to actuate this member.

understood that the 'invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made' in the arrangeyment of proportions of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the A spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows;

1. An automotive vehicle emergency brake lever construction including a rigid lever having pivotal connection at one end and a hand grip portion at the other end, clutch means for holding said lever in adjusted position, said clutch means including a clutch part carried by said lever, spring means for normally maintaining ysaid clutch means engaged, a clutch release member carried by and movable on said lever and having apart engageablev with said clutch part when saidmember is moved `in one direction,` and` spring means normally holding said member part spaced from said clutch part to prevent rattle and to permit movement of the lever in one direction without causing movement of the clutch release member, and said clutch release member being# movable in releasing direction when a force is applied to it adjacent the inner end ci said hand grip portion and by movement of said member relatively to said grip portion.

2. A brake lever construction including a stamping forming a lever having a channelshaped shank and a tubular grip portion, a pawl pivoted to said lever for cooperating with a ratchet to'clutch the lever in adjusted position,

a spring engaging said pawl to normally maintain ,'15 it inclutched position, a pawl release member ofk stamped metal .movably supported on said lever and vhaving a part for contacting said pawl, spring means for normally maintaining said part y out of contact with said pawl, and digitally opl-d20 erable means for moving said release member to unclutch said pawl.

3. A brake lever comprising a stamping forming a lever having a channel-shaped shank and a tubular grip portion, a pawl pivoted toV said lever .125 for cooperating with a ratchet to clutch the lever in adjusted position, a spring engaging said pawl to normally maintain it in clutched engagement,v a pawl release member of stamped metal movably mounted on said lever and having a part for coni. .130

tacting said pawl working within the lever shank, spring means for normally maintaining said pawl release member in one position, and digitally operable means for moving said release member to unclutch said pawl, the parts being so arrangedtg that the portions of the pawl and pawl release member which are in engagement when the member is operated to unclutch the pawl are normally spaced to permit movement` of the pawl along the ratchet as the lever is moved in brake setting da@ rection without causing any movement of said release member.

4. In a brake leverv of the pawl and ratchet type,

a pawl release member movable by a substantially endwise push action to unlatch the pawl from its/.45 ratchet, and spring means for normally maintaining said release member spacedrfrom said pawl.

5. In a brake lever of the pawl and ratchet type, Y a spring for normally maintaining said pawl and ratchet in latched engagement, a pawl release ,5, 0 member movable by a substantially endwise push action to unlatch the pavvl from the ratchet, and spring means for normally maintaining said release member-spaced from said pawl.

6. A brake lever construction including af: stamped lever having a channel-shaped shank, a release member of stamped metal pivoted to said shank walls with its web along the web of the shank and its side walls projecting away from the shank web, a pawl pivoted tov said lever and havao ing a tail lying in the path of movement of the adjacent end of said release member, a spring for urging said pawl in one direction, spring means for normally maintaining the adjacent end of said release member spaced from said pawl tail.65 and a channel-shaped trigger pivoted tosaid lever approximatelyY atv the inner end of the lever grip and arranged with a part of its web against the web of the other end of said release member and having a part exposed for i'lnger engagement.; 70

7. A brake lever construction including a stamped lever having a channel-shaped shank, a release member of stamped metal pivoted to said shank walls with its web along the web oi the shank and its side walls projecting away from the shank web, a pawl pivoted to said lever and having a taily lying in the path of movement of the adjacent end of said release member, a spring for urging said pawl in one direction, spring means for normally maintaining the adjacent end of said release member spaced from said pawl tail, and a channel-shaped trigger pivoted to said lever approximately at the inner end of the lever grip and arranged with a part of its Web against the web of the other end of said release member and having a part exposed for iinger engagement, said trigger Working through the pressure side of the lever grip and operable by a finger of the operatorto rock said release member to trip the pawl.

8. A brake lever construction including a stamped lever having a channel-shaped shank, a release 'member of stamped metal pivoted to said shank walls with its web along the web of the shank and its side walls projecting away from the shank web, a pawl pivoted to said lever and having a tail lying in the path of movement of the adjacent end of said release member, a spring for inging said pawl in one direction, spring means for normally maintaining the adjacent end of said release member spaced from said pawl tail, and a channel-shaped trigger pivoted to said lever approximately at the inner end of the lever grip and arranged with a part of its web against the web of the other end of said release member and havinga part exposed for linger engagement, said trigger having a part for hooking engagement with the lever to limit movement of said trigger in one direction.

9. A brake lever construction including a stamped lever having a U-shaped shank and a tubular grip at its free end, a pawl pivoted to said lever for engaging a ratchet, a spring for urging said pawl in one direction, a pawl release member of stamped metal and of substantially U shape in cross section, having a portion movable Within the lever shank and with the webs of said shank and member in opposed relationship and the walls thereof overlapped, said lever and release member having cooperating means for guiding said member, spring means between said lever and member for maintaining said pawl and adjacent end of the member in spaced relation, and said release member having an end disposed adjacent the lever grip engageable by a thumb of the operator for moving said member by thumb pressure to release the pawl.

10. An emergency brake lever for automotive vehicles comprising a stamping having a U- shaped shank and a tubular grip at its free end, a pawl pivoted to said lever for latching engagement with a ratchet, a spring for maintaining said pawl in one position, a stamped U-shaped pawl release member having portions movable within the lever shank and with the Webs of the member and shank in opposition and the side walls thereof overlapped, said lever and member being connected for relative pivotal movement, said pawl and said release member having engageable parts, spring means for normally maintaining said engageable parts in spaced relation, and said member having an end adjacent the lever grip providing a surface for engagement by a thumb of the operator whereby said member may be rocked by thumb pressure to unlatch the pawl.

l1. A brake -lever construction including a stamping comprising a U-shaped body portion and parallel legs for pivotal connection to a support, a pawl pivoted to said lever and arranged for cooperation with a ratchet to hold the lever in adjusted position, said pawl having a tail lying along said lever body, a combined handle and pawl release member stamped to provide a closed handle grip portion and a U-shaped extension, said member being pivoted to said lever body at its end remote from the lever pivot with said eX- tension lying Within the U-shaped body of the lever with an end adjacent said pawl tail, said lever having an abutment for the said end of said extension, and a spring fulcrumed on the pivotal connection of the lever body and said member and having hooked engagement with said lever body for normally maintaining said end of said extension against said abutment and spaced from said pawl tail.

12. A brake lever construction including a stamping comprising a U-shaped body portion and parallel legs for pivotal connection to a support, a pawl pivoted to said lever and arranged for cooperation with a ratchet to hold the lever in adjusted position, said pawl having a tai1 lying along said lever body, a combined handle and pawl release member stamped to provide a closed handle grip portion and a U-shaped extension, said member being pivoted to said lever body at its end remote from the lever pivot with said extension lying within the U-shaped body 4oi' the lever with an end adjacent said pawl tail,

said lever having an abutment for the said end of said extension, and a spring fulcrumed on the pivotal connection of the lever body and said member and having hooked engagement with said lever body for normally maintaining said end of said extension against said abutment and spaced from said pawl tail, said abutment and the pivotal connection of said member and lever body coacting to prevent relative rocking movement of said member and said lever body when said lever is swung to set positio 13. An automotive vehicle emergency brake lever construction including a rigid lever having pivotal connection at one end and a hand grip portion at the other end, clutch means for holding said lever in adjusted position, said clutch means including a clutch part carried by said lever, spring means for normally maintaining said clutch means engaged, an elongated clutch release member extending along said lever and thereto pivoted and having an end engageable with said clutch part, spring means acting against said release member to normally maintain said member end spaced from said clutch part to prevent rattle, and said clutch release member being rockable in releasing direction by digital action applied to it adjacent the inner end of said hand grip portion.

14. A control lever construction including a rigid lever member having pivotal connection at one end and a hand grip portion at the other end, clutch means for holding said lever in adjusted position, said clutch means including a clutch part carried by said lever member, spring means for normally maintaining said clutch means engaged, an elongated clutch release member extending along said lever member and thereon shiftably supported and having an end engageable with said clutch part, spring means acting against said release member to normally maintain said end spaced from said clutch part to prevent rattle, and means responsive to digital action applied near the inner end of said hand grip portion for shifting said clutch release member as to movelsaid end thereof into engagement with said clutch part to release the engagement of said clutch means.

15.l Anautomotive vehicle lemergency braise lel ver construction including a yrigid lever having a pivotal connection at one enda toothed` sector carried yby said lever near said one end, a pavvl pivoted on said lever to engage said sector for holding said lever in adjusted position spring means fornormally maintaining said patvl in engageme'nt With said sector, and an elongated pawl release member extending along said lever and supported thereby, the said release member being adapted, at the other end of the iever, for manipulation by the driver of the vehicle to effect disengagement of. said pavvl rom said sector, said releasemember having an end engageable with said pawl, and spring means acting against said release member to normally maintain said member end in disengaged relation with said pawl.

16. An automotive vehicle emergency brake 1ever construction including a rigid lever having pivotal connection at one end and having a hand grip portion at the other end provided with means defining a slot at its inner end, clutch means carriedfby said lever for holding said lever in ad justed position, said clutch means including a pavvl and a sector carried by said lever, spring means for normally maintaining said vclutch means engaged, a pavvl release member carried by and movable on said lever and having a part engageable with said pawl sector part when normally holding said member spaced apart from said " member is moved in one direction, spring means said pavvl to prevent rattle and to permit mqve-f", ment of the lever in one direction Without cause ing movement of the pawl release member, anda ringer operable member supported on said lever and having a portion extending outwardly,

through theslot in said hand grip portion and arranged movable to actuate said pa'wl release',

member.

17. An emergency brake lever construction for the dash koi automotive vehicles, said construction .comprising asupport, a stamping forming a l slotted lever shank of U-shaped cross-section,

said lever having spaced legs at its upper end .Y disposed astraddle said support and pivoted j thereto, and having a closed grip portion atits,

lovver end, a trigger pivoted in said slot andarranged for manipulation by the forenger of the hand of the driver of the vehicle, said trigger being disposed with a portion thereof normally projecting outwardly of the slot adjacent the upper end of said grip portion, spring means normally maintaining said trigger in its projected position,y

cooperating clutching members for holding said lever in adjusted position, With at least one of.

said clutching members being pivoted toA said shank, and a member Working Within the shank v slot cooperable with said trigger and with said one clutching member to move said clutching' member to unclutched position and release said lever when said triggeris rocked into said slot. HERBERT S. JANDUS.

CHARLES F. PURDY.A 

